What happened to the Spiro Mounds?
The prehistoric Spiro people created a sophisticated culture which influenced the entire Southeast. From AD 900 to 1300, the leaders at Spiro Mounds thrived. The mound center declined and was eventually abandoned by AD 1450, although the city continued to be occupied for another 150 years.
Where in Oklahoma are the Spiro Mounds?
One of Oklahoma’s most important prehistoric American Indian sites, Spiro Mounds is located in Le Flore County on the southern bank of the Arkansas River about fifteen miles from Fort Smith, Arkansas.
What was buried underneath the Spiro Mounds?
The bones of revered ancestors, ceremonial regalia, elaborate jewelry, axes and maces, blankets and beads and effigy pipes, treasures of pearl and copper and shell were buried together and left undisturbed for 600 years, until they were unearthed in the 1930s.
What is Spiro Oklahoma known for?
Spiro is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. Today, the 80-acre site with several earthwork mounds is preserved as Oklahoma’s only State Archeological Park and one of North America’s most important archaeological sites.
When did the Spiro Mound Builders live in Oklahoma?
Located on the Oklahoma and Arkansas border, the Spiro Mounds were part of a city complex populated from 800 to 1450 A.D. At its peak, it supported a population of some 10,000 people.
What tribe built the Spiro Mounds?
Caddoan
One of the most important American Indian sites in the nation, the Spiro Mounds are world renowned for the high volume of art and artifacts dug from the Craig Mound, the site’s only burial mound. Home to rich cultural resources, the Spiro Mounds were created and used by Caddoan speaking Indians between 850 and 1450 AD.
When were the Spiro Mounds made?
Home to rich cultural resources, the Spiro Mounds were created and used by Caddoan speaking Indians between 850 and 1450 AD. This area of eastern Oklahoma was the seat of ancient Mississippian culture, and the Spiro Mounds grew from a small farming village to a vital cultural center in the United States.
How safe is Spiro Oklahoma?
Is Spiro, OK Safe? The D+ grade means the rate of crime is higher than the average US city. Spiro is in the 26th percentile for safety, meaning 74% of cities are safer and 26% of cities are more dangerous.
When were the Spiro Mounds excavated?
1936
In 1936, the University of Oklahoma obtained control of the Spiro Mounds and began a three-year systematic excavation of the site. While the effort did reveal a wealth of information about Mississippian culture, the excavation ended with a near-complete leveling of the Spiro Mounds.
Why is Mounds OK called mounds?
History. The post office for this community was established in 1895 and originally named “Posey”, for the Creek poet Alexander Posey, who lived in Eufaula, Oklahoma. In 1898, the town was moved 5 miles (8 km) southwest and renamed “Mounds” for twin hills that were nearby.
What county is Spiro OK in?
Le Flore County
Spiro/Counties
Situated in northern Le Flore County, Spiro lies on U.S. Highway 271 on the dividing ridge between the Arkansas and Poteau rivers. The town is located three miles south of the Arkansas River, seventeen miles southwest of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and ten miles west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas border.
How big is Mounds Oklahoma?
2.26 mi²
Mounds/Area
Who owns Spiro Mounds Oklahoma?
Early looting of the site led to new laws, making Oklahoma one the first states to preserve and scientifically research archaeological sites. Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center opened to the public on May 9, 1978. Today the site is owned and operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
What do you know about Spiro Mounds?
Visit the The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture to learn more about Spiro Mounds. The mounds site, located seven miles outside of Spiro, Oklahoma, is the only prehistoric, American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public. The mounds are one of the most important American Indian sites in the nation.
Are the mounds in Oklahoma open to the public?
The mounds site, located seven miles outside of Spiro, Oklahoma, is the only prehistoric, American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public. The mounds are one of the most important American Indian sites in the nation.
Are there any archaeological sites open to the public in Oklahoma?
Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric Native American archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public.